Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

Carol K

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Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary for Newbies

This is a list of some of the metal detecting lingo adopted by detectorists as they pursue their hobby, this list is not complete, but I have gathered the most commonly used words identifying them as I understand them. Feel free to post more or correct some because I know I may have missed some.

HH - happy hunting
MDing - metal detecting
TH'ing - treasure hunting
tector - metal detector

clad - any US coin that is "sandwiched" with alloys of different metals.
merc - mercury dime
rosie - silver roosevelt dime
wheatie - wheat back cent
injun - indian head cent
IH - indian head cent
Walker - Walking Liberty Half Dollar
cartwheel - silver dollar
mint mark - a special mark placed on coins to let you know where or who made it.

coinshooters - detectorist who look mainly for coins
beach hunters - detectorists who mainly hunt beaches
relic hunters - detectorists who hunt mainly woods

probe - A tool to pinpoint the target while still in ground
the machine - your detector
digger - the tool used to dig your targets
topsoil - first 4 inches of ground

hipmount - mounting the control box of your detector with a belt on your waist
display - the target identification on your detector
ground balance - adjusting the detector to the mineralization in the soil
disc - ability of your detector to reject unwanted metal
tweak it - adjusting the detector
whispers - low, barely audible tones
beep beep - the sound certain detectors make.

dig it - just dig it up
find - something you found
finds - the good stuff you found
multi-targs - an area with a lot of targets
keepers - the targets that you keep whether good or bad
cache - a large amount of coins or jewelry buried together in a container
nice haul - a comment on your great finds
thingy - something you find and don't know what it is
sand stuff - normal trash you find in the sand
globola - a black corroded glob
black gunk - in the water where the sand don't move
snippers and snappers - small items you find

hunting - grabbing your detector and going!
newbie - someone new at the hobby
loner - a detectorist that doesn't belong to a club
seeded hunt - a hunt where the the finds have been scattered or planted

dry sand - The sand people lay there blankets and lawn chairs
wet sand - The high tide line to the low tide line, at low tide
blanket line - first 10 ft in the dry sand, from the high tide line
gridding the beach - detecting using a pattern as you walk along, most common is "straight" or "circular"
hot rock - a black volcanic rock, meteorite, or a rock that gives a off a metallic signal
erosion - a part of the beach that will strip right down to bedrock.
black sand - iron particles that are so small they look like sand

coil - the round thing at the end of your detector
WOT coil - a 15 inch coil made by Coil Tech, for Minelab detectors
hard wired - a modification or quick fix to your detector
swingin' coil time - the amount of time you spent detecting
pulseor PI - a waterproof detector that locates all metal targets
VLF - auto discriminates against iron
Target ID - a meter or display that shows you what your target might be.
Tone ID - different sounds identifying different target's sounds

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wwhikersfriend says... your forgot a few Carol buddy...

o crap=briar vine in face
omg!=SNAKE
Holey S**T=accidentally set your volume switch wide open
and OH NO=someone walking up to you real fast with a mean look on there face!

----------------------------------------------------

Leslie(Nova Scotia) adds... From the land of the Bluenose...have to add a few that we use in Atlantic Canada and other parts of the country
Vicky.....any coin with the bust of Queen Victoria on it usually from the years 1858 to around 1900
swish...water dig
go for a dig....going metal detecting
fish scale...a small silver nickel made up to 1921
Tim's....the major coffe/donut chain in Canada
bouy....a close friend
twoonie...our two dollar coin
loonie...our one dollar coin
Bluenoser.....a Nova Scotian
Herring Choker....New Brunswicker
Spud....A Prince Edward Islander
Newfie...a newfoundlander

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Couple of more from Hoser

POed---finding out you just spent the last hour MDing in a
patch of poison Oak(happened to me)

Mung---That nasty seaweed that tangles in your coil while
water detecting

Royality---Sharing your finds with the property owner.

Spaz----what your MD does just before the batteries run out

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Harley-Dog asks: What are Repeatable Signals?

I'm still fairly new to MDing and in several of the online articles that I have read recently I have come across the phrase "repeatable signal". Can someone clearly define what that means? I have been making the following assumption and am wondering if I am correct: when I get a tone or signal from BOTH directions when sweeping my coil, that is a repeatable signal. When I only get a tone or signal from one direction only, that is NOT a repeatable signal. Am I correct?

Also, what is the most likely interpretation of what it means to get a signal in both directions as opposed to when you only get a signal in one direction?

BILLV replies: Your assumtion is correct. Getting a solid signal in both directions usually means that the machine has a good lock on the target and the target is not being discriminated against. My experience is with a DFX and when this happens to me it usually means deep iron that the machine is having a hard time determining what it is. I have also had this happen when a coin is on edge in the ground but I usually can get a repeatable signal if I change my direction. Hope this helps.
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

I didn't see "loop" (coil) in there... one of the first slang MD words I learned.
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

And the all time favorite.......Canslaw!

Def: Canslaw:, shards, shreds, particulate, remains of, low cost metal containers encapsulating beverages, and various food items. These containers have been reduced to this state by lawnmowers, and other various cutting / grinding / shredding equipment.

There are two basic types. Newer Canslaw (most common) is comprised mosly of aluminum, while Older Canslaw is comprised mostly of tin.

Canslaw may be encountered almost anywhere. Caution should be exercised when excavating as there is a risk of injury and or infection.
Preventative measures would be the wearing of gloves and a ten year regimen of tetnus innoculation. If bitten, seek first aid or medical attention.

:D :D :D :D
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

"Canslaw" is a very good one, WThesing. I must admit, it took me a couple seconds of thinkin' on that one. :grin:
I didn't see "archies" in there either (achaeologists), even tho' this doesn't connect directly with MDing, but it has made the rounds in here.
HH (happy hunting) everyone! :D
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

Carol you should add Cherry picking (picker) to the list too. Cladius.
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

We gotta come up with a neat name for all of those foil drink pouches and squeezable yogurt containers. I'm starting to see quite a few of them now.
 
Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary For Newbies

Carol K.,

Although I hav'nt seen it mentioned in my travels through our forums as yet, you might want to add "BFO-Beat-frequency Oscillation" to the list, as it is one of the three types of MD's, i.e. VLF, PI and BFO.

Thanks much for creating the Glossary !

ToddB64
ACE250
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

i also heard swinging but watch you dont get into trouble like i did when i said im going swinging pmsl
 
The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

I would like to add a few more.

UMO : Unidentified Metal Object

Whatzit: (see UMO)

Nitro: A very nice looking piece of jewelry that turn out to be fake. When first pulled off the ground it makes your heart beat so fast that you reach for the little bottle with the nitroglycerine tablets.
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

Well done, carol, I think you've just about covered it all. How about a bit of aussie detecting lingo thrown in too like:
Fossiker - detectorist for gold or relics/coins
Old timer - prospector looking for gold
Shng ding - like 'thingy' ,something you find and not sure what it is
Gold in the Blood - gold fever
Sludge - blackish, smelly beach sand coins are found in
Karked it - something that just died on the goldfield
potato gold extractor - ask me about that one, old miner's trick to separate gold from mercury

Any aussies out there that can lend a hand with this!
Cheers Angela :grin:
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

I am glad to learn these slang terms. Also would like to know where to go to look in Texas since can not do state or federal parks. Moving to Austin next month.
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

Your list has put a lot into perspective for us newbies. Many Thanks!!
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

The manager of a dollar general store here was always asking if I was ready to go ping-ing. So I guess ping-ing is another name for metal detecting, and of course, im always ready to go.
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

I've always refered to it as "beeping", Wescowood... and I don't see that one in the list either. :grin:
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

Nuggetshooter detecting for gold nuggs
Fishin fer Spacerocks detectin for meteorites
Coldstone opposite hot rock + and -
one goes "boing" the other gives a zip like metal
 
Re: The New Metal Detecting Lingo Glossary

hi there folks here is one from a newbie
(rubar)rusted beyond all recognition
 
Let's not forget about spill (pocket spill) - a bunch of coins falling out of a pocket.
 
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